Holswick
Marianne Holswick, née Trickett, was born on March 29, 1924 in McLean, Saskatchewan to Herbert and Louisa Trickett. Herbert and Louisa came to Canada from England on the land scheme in 1921. Louisa had been a teacher in the UK and engendered a love of learning and academic discipline in her children, all three of whom also became teachers. Marianne grew up in the Depression years with her older brother Douglas and her younger sister Gywneth on the family farm, where she learned life-long habits of thrift and perseverance and making do. It was a hard life on the farm, but Marianne had many memories of good times and of family loyalty. She went to a country school with her siblings and took her Grade 11 by correspondence. She attended Scott Collegiate in Regina for Grade 12 and then got her teaching certificate from the Teachers’ College. Her first teaching position was in a rural school near Indian Head, where she taught grades one to ten. She taught for a few years, but felt a need for a change and became a telephone operator. She then completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Saskatchewan and worked in the Regina Public Library. Marianne met John Holswick and married him in 1953. Johnnie had come to Canada initially in 1929 from the west coast of Norway, but after the Wall Street crash, there was no money to send him home. He fought with the Norwegian Air Force in WWII but then returned to Canada. After they were married, Johnnie and Marianne moved to Flin Flon, where Johnnie operated a garage. Their two children Judith and Ivar were born there. Because of her mother’s ill-health, Marianne and Johnnie moved back to Saskatchewan in 1961, when Johnnie took over a business in Davidson. In 1962 Marianne returned to teaching in the Davidson High School and taught there for 29 years. She began with English in grades 9 to 11, but soon became senior English teacher. She taught many generations of Davidsonians and was a beloved and popular teacher. Many testimonials throughout her teaching career provide evidence of the respect and affection with which she was regarded by her students. She was tough, but fair and was always prepared to give her students the benefit of the doubt. She was involved in Drama, Oratory, and Yearbook activities, as well as running the library. Outside of school, Marianne was involved in the many activities of her children, as well as being an active member of the Library Board, the Arts Council and the Women’s Institute of the Anglican Church. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting and reading in her spare time. She also loved to travel. In 1962, the four Holswicks made a trip to Norway to meet the members of Johnnie’s large family. It was a trip never to be forgotten. Summer holidays after that were always spent camping, in northern Saskatchewan, in Alberta and BC and the western States. In later years there were trips to the Far East, Cuba, Hawaii, Venezuela, England, Scotland, Germany, Norway as well as many places in North America. After her grandson Johannes was born in 1988, she spent every Christmas in Germany. When she retired from formal teaching in 1991, she continued to teach and supervise English courses for Carlton Community College. She was still teaching English as a second language at the age of 85. Her love of knowledge never deserted her and after she retired she took a course in accountancy for small businesses, just because she was interested. In later years she crocheted literally dozens of afghans, most of which she donated to charitable causes. She was very involved with the catering operation Women’s Institute of the Anglican Church – the “A-Team”. She found particular joy in her grandson Johannes, even more so after he came to live with her to do his Grade 12 in Canada. She was always very involved in the lives of her niece Margaret Gould (Mick) and nephew Keith Bligh (Carol) and their children and grandchildren. Aunty Marianne will be missed very much.
She will be remembered as a loving and supportive wife, mother, aunt and grandmother and as a committed and dedicated teacher and member of the community. Her contributions will be greatly missed.
Marianne was predeceased by her parents Herbert and Louisa Trickett, her brother Douglas in the last days of WWII, and her husband John in 1981, parents-in-law Ragnhild and Martinus, brothers-in-law Ragnvald, Ivar and Harald, and sister-in-law Clara. She is survived by her daughter Judith Lindenbaum (Ian Livermore), son Ivar Holswick, grandson Johannes Lindenbaum, sister Gwyneth Bligh (Warren Wilson), niece Margaret Gould (Mick), nephew Keith Bligh (Carol) and many great and great-great nieces and nephews, both in Canada and Norway.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Davidson United Church. Arrangements were in the hands of Hanson’s Funeral Home (306) 567-2020.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Regency Manor, Central Butte or the Davidson Health Foundation, Davidson.
